Silappatikaram (Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம் ; IPA: [siləppə̪iɡɑːrəm]), is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature. The poet prince Ilango Adigal, a Buddhist monk, is credited with this work, although no direct evidence to the identity of its author has been found so far. As a literary work, it is held in high regard by the Tamils. The nature of the book is narrative and has a moralistic undertone. It contains three chapters and a total of 5270 lines of poetry. The epic revolves around Kannagi, who having lost her husband to a miscarriage of justice at the court of the Pandya king, wreaks her revenge on his kingdom.